Trunk



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. G. RUSSELL, Jr. TRUNK.

No. 446,890. Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

9% t e e h S s t e e h S 2 L L L E S S U R G a d 0 M o m TRUNK.

No. 446,890. Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

ll E m: nomus Perms col, mam-mum, WASNINBYGN, n. c.

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM G. RUSSELL, JR, OF IVINCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,890, dated February 24, 1891.

I Application filed SeptemberlQ, 1890. Serial No. 365,497. (No model.)

Be it known that I, WILLIAMG. RIISSELL, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vinchester, in the county of Frederick and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Trunk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in trunks, and is especially designed as a sample-trunk for use by commercial travelers or salesmen, but, as will hereinafter ap pear, may be used to great advantage by travelers of any kind.

The objects of the invention are to provide a trunk of large or small capacity, adapted to receive various samples of lines of articles or clothing, and which will permit of access to any portion of the trunk without disturbing or disarranging articles in other portions thereof, and also to avoid the necessity of a salesman carrying samples of several lines from handling heavy baggage while in the act of exhibiting any one line.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification, in the latter instance the trunk being designed for use by ordinary travelers- Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a perspective of one of the trays removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the tray-supporting frames. Fig. 6 is a modification of the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a rectangular trunk, the top of which is made fast with the side walls thereof, and said trunk may be constructed of any material and is properly bound and braced by the usual trimmings.

The end walls of the trunk (designated as 2) are provided with rabbeted edges 3, extending entirely around said wall, and the latter is removably mounted in a pair of opposite vertical guide-grooves 4, formed in the ends of the side Walls of the trunk, and in a continuation of said guides formed in the bottom of the trunk. These end walls are provided with handles 5 for lifting the trunk and also for withdrawing vertically the end walls from the grooves. The ends of the top of the trunk terminate short. of the end walls of the trunk, and have hinged thereto opposite end lids 6, adapted to close over the upper ends of the end walls and to be locked thereto by the lock 7.

8 designates a tray-su pportin g frame, there being employed in the present instance two of said frames. Numerous forms of frames will readily suggest themselves, and I herein illustrate two simple forms, considering the one shown in Fig. 5 as best adapted for trunks designed to carry light goods, and the one shown in Fig. 6 as the one best adapted for heavy goods.

In Fig. 5 I employ a series of transverse metallic straps 9, the extremities of which are upwardly bent, as at 10, and riveted to the sides of the trunk, the rivets also passing through metal re-enforcing straps 11, secured to the outside of the trunk. These straps support a series of slide-straps 12, and upon the latter are mounted two or more trays, in accordance with the distance apart of the frames. 13 designates the trays, and the same are preferably formed of pasteboard or light wood and are provided with removably loosely-fitting covers 14. In the present instance I have illustrated a series of six trays; but it will be apparent that the number. may be increased or decreased, and the tray-su pporting frames increased ordecreased or wholly omitted.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a stronger construction of frame, and in the same I employ a pair of L-shaped metal cleats, riveted to the opposite side walls of the trunk and to the metallic re-enforcing strips. These cleats 15 are connected at intervals by cross-strips 16 and constitute a strong and efficient frame.

As shown in Fig. 2, I may form the end walls of the trunk in the usual manner-that is, stationaryand provide said end walls with opposite grooves near one edge, in which is removably inserted the front Wall 16. In this instance, also, I omit the hinged end lids or covers and locate the same at the front edge of the trunk, as clearly shown. A trunk thus constructed permits of access to any of the various trays without a disturbance of trays.

In instances where the trunk is used by traveling salesmen, for which purpose the trunk is especially designed, said trunk may be placed either end to the front in the rear end of the wagon and backed up in front of the store and any tray desired removed and carried into the store for exhibiting samples and securing orders. The salesman is thus saved the trouble of carrying heavy luggage 1; from store to store and tossing over and indiscriminately mixing possibly two or three 1 other lines of samples for the purpose of gaining access to a desired line.

llavlng described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. A trunk two of the opposite walls of which are provided at corresponding ends with vertical grooves, a wall mounted for sliding in the same,a fixed cover terminating 2 5 short of the removable wall, and a lid hinged to the cover and adapted to overlap the removable wall, substantially as specified.

2. A trunk provided at the ends of its opposite side walls with vertical grooves and having its upper or top wall terminating short of the ends of the trunk and provided with hinged lids, opposite end walls rabbeted to fit within the grooves and adapted to be inclosed by the lids, a series of frames secured Within the trunk, and a series of removable trays mounted on the frames, substantially as specified.

3. A trunk provided with a removable wall, a series of trays located within the trunk, and frames for supporting the trays, said frames consisting of a series of transverse strips, the ends of which are bent and riveted to the walls of the trunk and to opposite re enforcing strips secured outside the trunk, and a series of slide-strips securing the transverse strips, substantially as specified.

it. A trunk having its side walls near its ends provided with grooves and its upper or top wall terminating short of the ends of the trunk and provided with hinged lids, removable end walls rabbeted to fit within the grooves in the side walls and adapted to be inclosed by the lids, and a series of removable trays mounted within the trunk, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLTAM G. RUSSELL, J R.

\Vitnesses:

L. LT. BARTON, LEE R. GRIM. 

